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Old 11-25-2006   #1 (permalink)
Michael
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Any stats on number of Americans living in Panama?

I'd be interested to know how many Americans live in Panama on a full-time or part-time basis. Does anybody know? Has there been a study about that that you could direct me to?
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Old 11-26-2006   #2 (permalink)
pan
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During his trip to Panama in November 2005, George W. Bush said that 25,000 US citizens live in Panama. I've heard higher number in the past, but 25,000 seems about right to me.
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Old 11-27-2006   #3 (permalink)
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How about Europeans???
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Old 11-27-2006   #4 (permalink)
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Thanks pan! That's very interesting to know... I had no idea so many Americans live in Panama. Do you know if there had any study been made on this? Thanks again!

Cheers,

Michael
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Old 07-09-2007   #5 (permalink)
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I wonder how many Germans there are in Panama?
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Old 07-10-2007   #6 (permalink)
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Are there many ex-Americans living in Panama?

United States citizens still have to pay income taxes to the United States government no matter where they live. For that reason, I would think people would try to give up their United States citizenship if moving to Panama.
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Old 07-11-2007   #7 (permalink)
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United States citizens still have to pay income taxes to the United States government no matter where they live. For that reason, I would think people would try to give up their United States citizenship if moving to Panama.
Not a good move unless you have no plans on ever leaving Panama again. If you do, and all you have is Panamanian citizenship, you'll be treated as a run-of-the-mill third world citizen wherever you go.
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Old 07-11-2007   #8 (permalink)
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Not a good move unless you have no plans on ever leaving Panama again. If you do, and all you have is Panamanian citizenship, you'll be treated as a run-of-the-mill third world citizen wherever you go.
I suppost that's true. I just wonder if it is worth paying so much taxes to the U.S. government just for citizenship, when you aren't even living in the country.
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Old 07-12-2007   #9 (permalink)
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I suppost that's true. I just wonder if it is worth paying so much taxes to the U.S. government just for citizenship, when you aren't even living in the country.
That's true. I guess the alternative is to obtain Canadian or European citizenship (if you qualify) so you can travel without hassles, and to live outside the country of citizenship e.g. in Panama so you don't have to pay any taxes.
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Old 10-04-2007   #10 (permalink)
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I am pretty sure that as long as you dont make more than $80K/yr outside the country you dont pay taxes on it. Any money you make in the USA you pay taxes on. If you incorporate in Panama and implement the great banking system you probably dont have that much to worry about. As always hire a good attorney in Panama.
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Old 10-05-2007   #11 (permalink)
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The US counts money made from investments as income, which can put some people over that $80,000.
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Old 10-11-2007   #12 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by pan View Post
During his trip to Panama in November 2005, George W. Bush said that 25,000 US citizens live in Panama. I've heard higher number in the past, but 25,000 seems about right to me.
As Panama is not a very big country, 25 thousand is a good number of American people there, most of them must be investors I guess
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Old 10-11-2007   #13 (permalink)
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well i know that Panama has around 3 mil population, so.. if there are 25,000 americans... if means there are quite a lot... anyway.. if i would be american, i'll definetely open a small business here.
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Old 10-12-2007   #14 (permalink)
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Very interesting to find out that there are 25,000 Americans living in Panama. I would definitely like to know how many Europeans or British people are living in Panama, i cannot see it being a high number with it being so far away from Europe. Heck, what am i saying, I've seen plane trips going for something stupid like $40 these days, crazy prices really. I would like to know how much a cheap airplane ticket to Panama costs. Anyone have any clues?
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Old 10-13-2007   #15 (permalink)
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25,000 is a lot of people. That must inspire some expat focused businesses in Panama.
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Old 01-31-2008   #16 (permalink)
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Great Info
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Old 02-20-2008   #17 (permalink)
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Wow! 25,000 sounds like a lot of people but I guess when you measure it up against the 2-3 million that live in panama it isn't quite a large number.
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Old 02-29-2008   #18 (permalink)
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Does anyone have a clue as to how many ethnic Chinese live in Panama? My wife is Chinese, and it would be good for her if there were a lot around. I'm not Chinese myself, but I speak the language, and it would be good for me to stay in practice.
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Old 03-01-2008   #19 (permalink)
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If you are looking to be around ethnic Chinese come to El Dorado. Anywhere around the El Dorado mall you will find what you are looking for. There are just as many Chinese as there are Panamanians.
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Old 03-05-2008   #20 (permalink)
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I dont know exactly how many Americans are in Panama, I think you check with the American Embassy.
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Old 03-21-2008   #21 (permalink)
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As Panama is not a very big country, 25 thousand is a good number of American people there, most of them must be investors I guess
Based on these figures, I calculate that Americans are 0.84% of the total population of Panama. But I'm sure that in some areas like Boquete, their presence is very concentrated and very noticeable.
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Old 03-31-2008   #22 (permalink)
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According to the CIA World Factbook, 10% of the population of Panama is "white" and, although this is a pretty generic term, would include most Americans and Europeans. This would put the expats numbers at 32,000, which is probably close to correct.

The only hard stats would be maintained by immigration; however, given the ever changing laws, many of the expats here on "tourist" visas aren't tourists at all. They simply keep renewing their tourist status by leaving the country every three months for 72 hours. There also seems to be a number of expats who let their visas expire, then pay the fine when they leave and come back, if only because the fines are less than the costs to renew your visa through a lawyer, which appears to becoming a requirement now.

An offsetting factor is the number of expats whose primary residence is not in Panama. Most come here in the "dry" season, staying for a few months of the year. Their residence here is a second home, or they rent while they are here, so they cannot accurately be included in total population numbers.

Regardless of the current numbers, these will pale over the next few years as millions of Americans, Canadians, Australians, Asians and Europeans discover the many benefits of living here. Panama already offers a comprehensive pensionado program of tax incentives and discounts. If they get realistic about the retirement or semi-retirement market and develop a workable six month visa program the number of people moving here will grow exponentially.

There are also so many positive factors involved in Panama that will all affect growth - the expansion of the canal, the new cruise ship port, the new